He Left Makkah to Start Again. What Did He See That Others Might Miss?

Imagine watching a successful merchant leave Makkah.

He has an established livelihood and connections. Now he is leaving for Madinah, where he will need to begin again.

To someone thinking only about financial security, it might seem like a poor decision.

But Abdul Rahman ibn Awf (RA) was migrating for his faith.

The Quran describes the early Muslims who migrated as people seeking Allah's bounty and pleasure (Surah Al-Hashr : 8).

He saw a purpose worth pursuing, even when it meant leaving behind a familiar life.

Show Me the Market

When Abdul Rahman arrived in Madinah, a wealthy companion, Sa'd ibn Ar-Rabi', offered to share half his wealth with him.

Abdul Rahman thanked him, prayed for Allah to bless him, and asked:

"Show me the market."

He began trading, earning dried yoghurt and butter. Before long, he had earned enough to get married.

This exchange is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 2049.

He trusted Allah, but he didn't sit back and wait. He sought opportunities and worked to build his livelihood.

Wealth Became a Tool to Do More Good

Over time, Abdul Rahman became extraordinarily wealthy.

A historical report records that he sold land for 40,000 gold dinars and distributed the proceeds to people in need, including the wives of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

He came to Madinah needing to rebuild his livelihood. Later, he had the means to make a remarkable difference in other people's lives.

The Quran teaches us to seek the Hereafter through what Allah has granted us, without forgetting our share of this world, and to do good to others (Surah Al-Qasas : 77).

Wealth can improve our lives, provide comfort for our families, and create opportunities to do even more good.

What Can We Learn About a Believer's Way of Life?

Allah says:

Our lives are not measured by wealth alone, but also by how we live and what we do.

Abdul Rahman's story offers three valuable lessons:

Faith shaped what he pursued, how he worked, and what he did with the results.

You too can aim high, build wealth, improve your family's life, and achieve great things.

Whatever Allah grants you, strive to make the best of it, and use it to do more good.